Kenilworth 26th December
Watching Eyes
The Mike Bass trained UNCLE TOMMY had bumped good sorts in each of his last three starts and so it was no surprise to see him sent off a heavily supported favourite in the opening maiden event over 1200m. Backed throughout the morning into 17/20 from 12/10, Uncle Tommy was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead passing the 200m marker and with some in hand, he comfortably accounted for the running on TIGER’S EYE by two and a half. Keep an eye on Tiger’s Eye, he was having his first outing since April here and is sure to come on for the run.
Another 3yo to win well on this card was the Right Approach colt CYPRESS POINT. Well supported into 3/1 second favourite from 9/2, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge raced prominent throughout. He began to assert his authority 250m from home and although the pacemaker LEGION OF HONOUR never gave up the fight once headed, he won going away.
The non black type Cape Summer Stayers Handicap over 2500m topped the bill and here followers of the money were also on the mark when TWO STRIKES did the business. Backed into 75/20 favourite from 5/1 at the track, the son of Strike Smartly raced third in the early part of the race some four lengths off the pace set by HOSPITALITY. Two Strikes quickened nicely at the top of the home straight and in a race where only a length and a half separated the first six home, the benefit of first run aided him to beat CREE LODGE by a half. Interestingly, the third horse home HAWK’S EYE was finishing best of all.
Titbits
RAINBOW MAN won the Juvenile Plate over 900m with some in hand.
GOLDEN RUSE was running on stoutly from the rear in the MR77 Handicap over 1800m.
Turffontein 27th December
Punters Got Wind
Monday’s action took place on the inside track where a gamble was landed in the opening maiden event over 1450m when SEPTEMBER WIND (32) did the business. Backed throughout the day into 16/10 favourite from 14/1, the son of Western Winter was soon up handy. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 400m pole and drew clear easily on the run to the line to beat the running on SAN CLEMENTE by seven.
Another to win very easily in the maiden ranks here was the aptly named THE BEST OVERALL (36) who came home smoking in the girls division over 1450m. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Anthony Delpech, the 15/20 favourite was soon close to the speed. She took up the running coming off the strip and with a ton in hand, she glided in by four and a half.
The afternoon’s feature event was a Pinnacle Stakes over 3000m and here victory went to last season’s Gauteng Gold Bowl winner WINNING LEAP (97). Allowed to ease out to 5/1 from 33/10 at the track as money came for both VERTICAL TAKEOFF and MIRAGE DRIVE, Dominic Zaki’s charge raced fifth for most of the journey. He was asked to take up the running early in the short home straight and although the Natal Gold Cup runner up Vertical Takeoff finished well from off the pace, he went on to score very easily by five and three quarters. As for the ante post favourite FROZEN FIRE. He drifted badly in the betting and again failed to quicken.
Titbits
DUBAI RAINBOW won the MR75 Handicap over 1200m going away.
TWO WOOD caught the eye running on stoutly late in the MR72 Handicap over 1600m.
Vaal 28th December
Strong Finish
They raced on the sand on Tuesday where the easiest victory in the maiden ranks was recorded by the St John Gray trained TURKEY SHOOT (27). Sent off a clear favourite at 16/10, the son of Sarge was always in touch with the leaders. He quickened nicely from halfway and after striking the front 300m out, he easily accounted for the well tried SIBER CENTURY by five and a half.
A MR84 Handicap was next up and in what proved to be a real thriller, victory here went to the second favourite MINA SALAAM (65). On leaving the stalls it was the well supported odds on favourite SWAN NECK (8/10 into 5/10) who predictably set the pace. Mina Salaam sat sixth for most of the journey and as they approached the 400m marker, she still had a good four lengths to find. Once given rein though, the daughter of Medaglia D’Oro quickened in good style and with the rest left trailing in their wake, she did well to get the better of Swan Neck close home and score by a length. One for the notebook.
A MR104 Handicap over 1200m topped the bill and here the best bet on the card for many, STORM CROSSING (83) duly arrived. Sent off a strong favourite at 11/10, Mike De Kock’s charge as per usual raced in midfield during the early part of the race. At his best on the sand, Storm Crossing quickened nicely down the long home straight though and under a well judged ride from his regular partner apprentice Appie, he got up late to deny the well supported third favourite SICOCO (8/1 into 9/2).
Titbits
Newcomer MARIA K (16/1 into 7/1) won the Workrider’s maiden event over 1200m going away.
THE RAJ won the MR90 Handicap over 1600m with authority.
Kenilworth 29th December
Making A Splash
The first favourite to arrive in Cape Town on Wednesday was GRASP YOUR DESTINY who did the business in the second race on the card, a maiden event over 1600m. Allowed to ease right out to 5/2 from 16/10 at the track as money in the main came for both GREAT KALI (10/1 into 15/2) and CASTLEMARTIN (5/1 into 3/1 second favourite), Mike Bass’ charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. He finished best of all down the long new course straight and in a race where less than a length separated the first five home, he got up in the very last stride to deny one of the money horses, Great Kali.
Race four on the card was a Graduation Plate over 1000m and here we saw an impressive performance from the Dean Kannemeyer trained SPLASH GOLD. Confidently ridden by Karl Neisius, the 14/10 favourite was content to sit in midfield for most of the journey. He was clearly cruising as he moved through to take up the running 200m from home and with plenty in hand he drew clear nicely late to score by a length and three quarters. Splash Gold won very well and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
A MR94 Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller, the easy to back THANKS DAD caused an upset. Freely available at 16/1 on the off, Glen Puller’s charge was guarding the rear as the eight runners turned for home. The favourite SEALED ORDERS meanwhile had raced close up in third and when that one moved through to take up the running 250m from home, he looked to have done everything right. Thanks Dad ran on stoutly at the business end of the race though and got up to deny the punter’s choice in the very last stride.
Titbits
QUEEN’S COMMAND won the Allowance Plate over 1700m fair and square.
Fourth placed BLUEMAMBO ran on strongly after not finding a clear passage in the MR76 Handicap over 1600m.
Greyville 29th December
Horses For Courses
The easiest victory in the maiden ranks in Natal on Wednesday was recorded by the strongly fancied STAR OF ERIN (34). Allowed to ease out to 18/10 from 16/10 at the track as money came for FOXTROT BABY (5/2 into 19/10), Star Of Erin was taken straight to the front and led throughout. Foxtrot Baby challenged strongly 300m from home, but answering every call from a very determined Anton Marcus, Star Of Erin went on to score quite comfortably in the end by two.
Another to put in a gutsy frontrunning performance on the night was the Hennessey gelding ESTECO (59). Challengers were aplenty as the ten strong field turned for home and it looked as if Esteco might get swamped at any moment. Esteco found extra when the chips were down though and drew clear nicely at the business end of the race to score by three and a quarter.
Topping the bill was a MR93 Handicap over 1400m and here victory went to the course and distance specialist PARAQUAYITO (69). Now unbeaten in four starts over the trip, Tony Rivalland’s charge was taken straight to the front by Anthony Delpech and led throughout. He was two and a half lengths clear turning for home and although KINGS CROSS did make some headway over the final 400m, he still had a length and a quarter to spare at the wire.
Titbits
BLACK WING ran on strongly after not getting the clearest of runs in the maiden event over 1400m.
After racing at the back, KING FERNANDO ran on well to take third in the MR89 Handicap over 1900m.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: (6) Triumphal Arch 12
Race 3: (8) Karlo 40
Race 4: (5) Zili 65
Race 5: (3) Greek Goddess 38
Race 6: (1) Sarah Em 80
Race 7: (8) Kabamba 76
Race 8: (11) Tara’s Kingdom 58
Kenilworth
Race 1: (1) Excellent Cove 11 (NAP*)
Race 2: No Qualifiers
Race 3: (5) Wing Man 24
Race 4: (10) Edukat 86
Race 5: (1) Love Is In The Air 88
Race 6: (11) Castle Rock 53
Race 7: (8) Siegfried 83
Race 8: (3) Tropical Empire 106
Race 9: (4) Il Saggiatore 80
Race 10: (3) Just Tiger 25 (nb)
Borrowdale Park
Race 1: (5) Wolfie (5)
Race 2: (1) Prussian Hero 23
Race 3: (2) Just Jude 35
Race 4: (4) Preposterous 46
Race 5: (2) Flashing Numbers 41 (NAP**)
Race 6: (7) Predictress (8)
Race 7: (6) Every Promise 2
Race 8: (1) One Last Trick 51
Race 9: (6) Philippian 42
Turffontein
Race 1: (10) Boujis 25 (NAP*)
Race 2: (1) Westa 30
Race 3: (2) Oscavar 27
Race 4: (12) Breeze On By 51
Race 5: (6) Floating Feather 69
Race 6: (10) Beautiful You 67
Race 7: (9) Galanthus 100
Race 8: (7) Danish 71
Race 9: (15) Pink Sombrero 51
Clairwood
Race 1: (5) Autumn Breeze 9
Race 2: (11) Balladry (11)
Race 3: (1) Full Steam Ahead 18
Race 4: (2) Princeton 18
Race 5: (9) Legal Account 51
Race 6: (8) Exclaim’n’exclude 97
Race 7: (2) West End 69
Race 8: (12) Rapporteur 44
Race 9: (10) Epic Style 18 (NAP*)
Race 10: (6) Obama Way 24
Top rated winners last week included:-
Big Yellow Taxi won 9/2
Ubizo won 75/20
Royal Captive won 33/10
Take Over Target won 19/10
Kayhaladin won 17/10
Ugly Betty won 15/10
Nor’wester won 11/10
Uncle Tommy won 17/20
Notebook:-
Mina Salaam (R Magner, Gauteng
September Wind (G Alexander, Gauteng)
Splash Gold (D Kannemeyer, W-Cape)
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)
Kenilworth 26th December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Kayhaladin
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Hammie’s Boy
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Two Strikes
Turffontein 27th December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Best In The West
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Super Trooper
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Winning Leap
Vaal 28th December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Storm Crossing
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) The Raj
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Kenilworth 29th December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Splash Gold
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Ubizo
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Nor’wester
Greyville 29th December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (0) No Qualifiers
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (6) Paraquayito
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Esteco
